The New Zealand Political Studies Association / Te Kāhui Tātai Tōrangapū o Aotearoa (NZPSA) was founded in 1974 and is a collegial association of individuals. It exists to promote and encourage the study of politics involving not just academics, but also students and practitioners, politicians, civil servants, pollsters and journalists. It is the main professional organisation for those working in political studies in Aotearoa/New Zealand, and welcomes a range of disciplinary perspectives. The NZPSA hosts an annual conference that attracts national and international participants, and awards annual postgraduate and undergraduate prizes.

The association has strong links with all the political studies departments and programmes in Aotearoa/New Zealand, has its own research magazine, Women Talking Politics, has had a long affiliation with the journal Political Science, and has links with similar political studies associations internationally. We currently have six networks: the Media and Political Communication (MPC) Network, the Political Theory Network (PTN), the Environmental Politics and Policy Network (EPPN), the Gender and Politics Network, the Interpretative Policy Analysis (IPA) Network and the Aotearoa/New Zealand Politics Network. We also have an active Women’s Caucus and a vibrant Postgraduate body that organises an annual Pre-Conference Workshop.

The NZPSA is run by an executive committee and members enjoy various benefits nationally and internationally. It is a democratic organisation and is essentially what its members decide it to be. The association has a strong commitment to equity, and it works toward overcoming barriers to traditionally under-represented groups in the discipline and promoting fair treatment for all those working in political studies.

On the right is a full list of this site’s pages that will lead you to various resources for the study of Aotearoa/New Zealand politics, gender and women’s issues, and information about postgraduate opportunities. If you scroll down this page, you will also find the latest posts on conferences, job opportunities and other news.

To contact us please see the committee list, and to post information about job opportunities, upcoming conferences, or other newsworthy items send details to admin@nzpsa.co.nz.

A dynamic research team, under the leadership of Dr. Melanee Thomas at the University of Calgary, is seeking a postdoctoral fellow for an innovative project exploring the links between gender, stereotypes, and political attitudes. Additional information about the project can be obtained by contacting Dr. Thomas at thomasm@ucalgary.ca.
The postdoctoral fellowship would be funded through the University of Calgary Eyes High Postdoctoral fellowship program. The position pays $50,000/year plus benefits for two years, with a possibility of renewal. Support for research and travel is also available.

Requirements:

PhD in Political Science or related field, or PhD completion prior to December 1, 2015.

Demonstrated research expertise in gender, political behaviour, or political psychology.

Advanced methodological skills in one or more of the following: survey research, experimental methods, quantitative content analysis, physiological testing.

Ability to relocate to Calgary (in Alberta, Canada) as early as February 1, 2016.

There are no citizenship restrictions, but immigration requirements may need to be met prior to appointment.

Ability to read and write in French would be an asset, but not required.

Final approval of the fellow rests with the University of Calgary’s Office of the Vice President Research.

Please send applications to Dr. Melanee Thomas (thomasm@ucalgary.ca). All applicants should provide a current CV and a cover letter explaining their research plans and fit with the team by November 2, 2015.

The application should also arrange for two letters of recommendations to be sent directly to Dr. Melanee Thomas via email (thomasm@ucalgary.ca), with the applicant’s name in the subject line.

The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (National University of Singapore), a premier public policy institution in Asia, invites applications for three full-time tenure track positions (rank open) in Public Management. Candidates are expected to demonstrate evidence of a high level of competence in policy-relevant, theoretically sound, and empirically grounded research on public management.

Applications are particularly invited from candidates with a background in the following areas:

Public Management

Public Administration

Governance

Public Management Reform

Strategic Management

Human Resource Management

Performance Management

Candidates should preferably have a PhD in Public Administration, Public Policy, Organization Science, Management, Political Science or a related discipline; an established record of teaching and research in the area; and an ability to engage with policy and research communities in Asia and around the world.

Applicants with a distinguished record of scholarship can also be considered for an endowed chair appointment as the Li Ka Shing Professor of Public Management.

Application Procedure

Applicants should submit, in electronic form (MS Word or PDF file), the following:

The post will remain open until filled. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. Interested candidates are encouraged to find out more about the National University of Singapore and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at http://www.lkyspp.nus.edu.sg or to email Kanti Bajpai, Chair of the Faculty Recruitment Committee (sppkpb@nus.edu.sg).

The first issue of Women Talking Politics, The Research Magazine of the New Zealand Political Studies Association / Te Kāhui Tātai Tōrangapū o Aotearoa (NZPSA) is now online. Edited by Dr Valentina Cardo of the University of Auckland, Women Talking Politics has been re-launched after a five-year break. The first two issues of Women Talking Politics are supported by NZPSA’s bi-annual grant.

Advancing the Status of Women in Political Science and International Relations in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Stemming from a one day workshop in 2012 to assess the status and progress of women in the academic discipline of political studies, this report brings global research to bear on the status of women in political science and international relations in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

It presents the findings of the first comprehensive survey of the representation of women in NZ political science: an under-representation of women as graduate students, as faculty (particularly senior faculty), and as the subject of academic analysis within the curriculum.

This reflects the larger, established trend of women’s lack of parity as academics internationally.

Particular emphasis in the report is placed on structural impediments to progression toward gender parity, in addition to barriers individually faced.

As such, the report takes the empirical data as a way to identify structurally-entrenched and often invisible impediments to women’s equality in academia.

A number of promising recommendations to improve understanding of, and overcome barriers to women’s advancement within the discipline of political science and international relations in Aotearoa/New Zealand were also arrived at and are presented in this work.